The manuscripts of His Grace the Duke of ... - Electric Scotland

19
[Robert Mateland of Aiichincassill, the
King's well beloved esquire,
receives from King James the Fourth a charter of "locum Castri et
montem nuncupatum le Mote de Tibris," with bounds and pertinents
extending to 2 acres, to him and his heirs, in feu farm and heritage, for
payment of 40«/. yearly, to the King and his successors. At Lirdithqw,
10 August 1489. Joiin Maitland of Auchingassill has a precept of the
same Mote, 25 April 1540, {sic, but probably a mistake for 1541), and a
Great Seal charter 25 April 1541,]
27. Process of Apprizing led by James Lindesay, macer, sherifE of
Drumfreis in that part, narrating a decreet by the Lords of Her Majesty's
Council, that the five merks worth of land of Ardoch and Knoktone, of
old extent, and one merks worth of land of Humby, in the barony of
Drundangrig and sheriffdom of Drumfreis, were in our Sovereign Lady's
and her predecessor's hands as superiors thereof, by reason of nonentry
since the decease of the late William Douglas of Drumlangrig, knight,
to the space of thirty years last bypast, in default of a lawfully entered
tenant and the maills, &c., to pertain to our Sovereign lady and to James
Douglas of Drumlangrig, her donator, by reason of a gift made to him,
and in default of movable goods on the ground of the lands to distrain,
ordained the lands to be apprized to the said James. The sheriff narrates
his visit to the ground of the said lands, where " I culd nocht apprehend
nor find ua movable gudis to distrenze," and denounced the lands to be
apprized on 23'^ March instant in the Tolbooth of Drumfreis, and
warned Robert Crichtone of Ardoch and Margaret Cathcart, his spouse,
" pretendit heretabill possessouris of the saidis landis," and others having
interest to be present, and made proclamation at the market cross of
Drumfreis. On the 23^ March the sheriff fenced a coiu't in the tolbooth
and summoned parties, when none compearing, he caused an inquest to
be chosen. These were, Thomas Kirkpatrik of Closburne, Roger Kirkpatrik
of Ros, John Greirsoun of Lag, John Charteris of Windehillis,
Thomas Fergussone of Cragdarroch, John Huntar, Roger Gordoune of
Hardland, Gilbert Greir of Craig, Cuthbert Fergussoune of Glencors,
Roger Gordoune of Creichane, John Maitland of Auchingassill, Alexander
MakGachane of Dalquhat, John Maxwell of Knowhill and others, who
found that the lands extended yearly to £20 and in the whole space to
30 score pounds; after which the macer offered the lands to Robert
Creichtoune and his spouse, by open proclamation at the Tolbooth
window, or to any others, but could get no buyer, and thereupon
apprized the lands to the said James Douglas in complete payment of
the thirty score pounds. The assize apprized 20 s of annual rent to the
Macer for his fee, which he sold to the said James for the sum of 20/.
Seals are said to be appended but are now wanting. No date c. 1544.
28. Instrument of Sasine in favour of James Douglas, son and
heir of the late William Douglas of Drumlangrig, knight, in the lands
and barony of Drumlangrig. The sasine proceeds on a precept from
Chancery of Mary Queen of Scots directed to the sheriff and his bailies
of Drumfreis, bearing that by an inquest made by her mandate and
retoured to Chancery, it was found that the late William Douglas of
Drumlangrig, knight, father of James Douglas, bearer hereof, died last
vest and seized as of fee, at the faith and peace of the Queen's dearest
father, in all and whole the lands of the barony of Drumlangrig, with
waulk and corn mills thereof, tenants, tenantries, and services t)f free
tenants thereof, that the said James Douglas is lawful and nearest heir
to the said William in the said lands, is of lawful age ; that the lands were
held in chief of the Queen ;
charging the sheriff therefore to give sasine
of the same, taking security for xv°^ j^'lxvj ti xiij s iiijd of ferms of the
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